Chrijiian Religion proved by Reafon, 6i Author of an Inf\:itution Ecclefiaftiol or Secular, than thole w' o were admi tt~ d into irs r-A...--1 beginning, and thofe who have fucceeded in that ordtt from Age to Age without inter- Chap. o. ruption? Befides, we havethe confemingand con(\ant te(\imony of.}ews and Heathens,~ the ob(\inate oppolers of the Chri!\ian Religion, that its Name as well as Original was derived. from Chrit1. We may with more Reafon fulpecr, there were never fuch Philofophersas PlatoandArijlotle, or that the Books which from their times by univerfa l perfevering fame have been attributed to them, were made by others, and put fonh under falfe Titles, than to que!\ion what is [o generally receiv'd concerning the Author of the Gofpel. 'Tis the p;rfellion of folly and madnefs to oppofe fuch evidence. . o. 'Tis equally certam that the Books of the New Te!\ament are tranfmmed to USJn their original purity, without any material alteration. For it is incredibl e that the facieties of Chrijlimu fhould neglecr the preferving incorrupt and intire, thole Writings which they efteemed a moft Cacred Trealure, on which they built their hopes of Eternal Bleffednefs. It cannot be fuppos'd they would tranfmitthem to their Chtldren, whofe Salvation mu(\ have been clearer to them than the World, otherwife than they received them. This were to charge rhem with the mofl: fupine carelefnefs, and unnatural cruelty. Befides, the great number ofCopiu difpcrft through all p!aces, and tranllatcd into m~- . ny Lan11uages, and read in all Clm(\Ian Affembhes, _mak: the attempt to ~alfifie them m thinas of moment to be morally nnpoffible. Thts wtll be more cl ear tf we confider that~mongCbrifliaRJthere.have been fo. rnanyperfons .wife and good, of e_xcellent iearningand venue, and of dtverfe Countnes, that by the1r office were efl:ab i(h r the Depofitories of thofe prefent Writings. And is there any colarable pretence to imagine, that theyfhould fuffer any notable alteration. in them,, much l e~s confpire t o m_ke a ~hange in any Doctrines of Fanh or Ltfe therem deliver d? To g1ve repmauon and credit to a Jye, intiding it to Divine Reve1ation, efpecially in matters of Eternal 'confequcnce, is fuch a black crime that none can be prefumed capable of, but one that has utterl y loft his Confcience. I fhall not here urge, that the Immortal Providence of God is eminon tIy interefted in preferving the Scriptures in fuffici ent Purity. It were a vil e imputarion ~~nc~~u;~~d~n~~rsGf~~~~[~~~ t~el~~:e0~~~t ~~;~~.ul~na~~i~.~!·;_~v~~i~~. un*~~~~ fnare would be laid without poffibility of prevention, and the embraci eg Error in· fiead of Truth would be innocent. But this Argument though incompara ly the belt, fuppofes that the Chrillian Doctrine defcended from Heaven, the prools of which are to be confidered. 3· I will · not infilt on the proofs of all myflerious points of the Chriftian Faith fingly confider'd, but propound the Arguments that evince the truth of tha t Religion, wherein they are expreOy and clearly' contain'd, and from thence conclude that 'tis moll: reafonable to believe them. As in belieging a Town, the Alfailanr.; do nat attack every particular Houfe, but vigorouOy prefs on to poffefs themfdvesof the Citadel tha t commands the whole, and with that all the Honfes are conquer'd. That Divine R t velation is infullible, is an acknowledg'd Principle by all Men: For Natural R.eafon dilla tes that unerring Wifdom and infinite Goodmfs are effential perfecrions ofGod; fo that he cannot be deceived, nor deceive thofe that truft in his Word. 4· The proofs of the truth of Chriftian Religion are of a Moral Nature; and though not of equal clearnefs with the teftimcnies of Senfe, or a Mathematical Demonfl:rati on, yet are fo pregnant and convincing, that the conGdering difpaffionate fpirit fully acquiefces in them. A Mathematical D:mon{hation brings fo ftronga Light tha t the Mind cannot fufpend its alfent, but is prefently overcome by the naked propounding of the Obj•cr: And hence it is that in Mathematical matters, there are nei•her Infidels nor Hereticks. But the motives of Faith are fucb, that although the Objecr b, moft certain, yet the Evidence is not fo clear and irreGftible, as that which flows from Senfe, or.a Demonftration. And 'tis the excellent obfervation of 11 GratiM, God has wi{eJy appointed . · this way of perfwading Men the truth of the Gofpel, that Faith might be accepted ~~:,J"'·Jid. as an Af!c of Obedience from the reafonable Creature. For the Arguments to induce belief, though of fuffici entcertainty, yet do not fo conftrain the mind to give its ailent, ~;~~h~~~ iu;~d:e~~~,"i~~~~~Jc~o~p\~ w~~t i:~aJe~~~.~~~ ~:~ ,~~~~,"d~~e~o:mFe~~!lioi~ cannot make an obfcure object to be clear to its perception, no more than it can change the colour of vifible things, and make what appears Green to 'the Eye to foem Red. But the mind enlightned by fnfficient Reafons that the Chriftian Religion is from God, reprefents it fo to the Will, and the Will, if Gncere and unbiaft by carnal affell:ions, commands the Mind not to difguife the Truth, to make it lefs credible, nor t<> pa~~rt\~
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